The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1887-12-10
sTRENarH AND 1rs sounoE. :

STRENGTH AND ITS SOuRCE.
Few possessions are more universal
lY valued and wished for than strength,
but It il not so generally considered
that only through long, patient and
continuous effort can II be obtained.
It Is thought of rather as q happy
accident, Or q native gift, to be pas
sively grateful for, than as a natural
and certain result Of toll and striving.
We congratulate the stron&' man on
his strength, but rarely praise or honor
him on that account; wepity tho weak
man for his weakness, but 1T would
seem cruel to mingle blame or reproof
with our pity. Yet the truth is that
human strength can be earned through
gift which human nature showers
upon somo and denies to others, but
often u gradual development In tho
individual, going on in accordance
with the active efforts and earnest
struggles which he puts forth from
day to day. .a
Take bodily strength and example,;
the infant gains it through constant
motion, tho boy through active play,
the man through toll and tug and
burden. Let these cease and strength
will cease developing; let them be
relaXedt it will decline. No one can
have the strength to take long walks
and hard climbs who docs not put
forth in active efforts from time to
time, whatever force he has. No ono
has tho strength to endure unusual
toll and hardship who has not struggled
manfully in past conflicts. Bodily
idleness as inevitably results in bodily
weakness. The day is happily we'll
nigh past whom women prided them
selves upon their physical frailty; but
many still continue to be feeble and
call it their misfortune, whom quite
often it is only the necessary conse-
quence Of languid inactiop.
This is equally manifest in the mon
tai condition. The strong mind is
ono which has accumulated power
earnest study, much effort of thought,
many q tussle with self-indulgence
and love Of easo, many struggle
with difficulties and obstacles, have
combined to give it thatvigorous force
and elasticity which is to its possessor
so valuable a boon. We look with
pleasure upon tho man thus favored.
We admire his clear thought, his
sound judgment. his keen discrimina-
ton; to envy tho ease with which he
detects the point Of an argument, or
solves al intricate question, or applies
q principle; but we do not see, and
seldom even imagine, what toll and
patience may have been the source of
this mental strength. On the other
hand tho man who has never learned
to control his thoughts, and compel
them to work, who has shrunk from
difficulty, and indulged in lazy and
idle revcrie, must expect to DO
weak-minded; he has denied the very
food which it needs to build it up and
strengthen it. OF course there are
few exceptionally gifted persons, 10
whom this oxertion is only pleasure,
but most Of lis must learn our strength
of mind by much stoadfast toll and
somo sclf-donial.
More strength also is gained chiefly
through struggles Of tho moral nature.
OH evil inclination conquered, a duty
performed, moral strength is acoumu-
lated. The ono whom all mon honor
for virtue and integrity, to whom
wrong doing seems 10 offer no attrac-
Cion, End wio performs each duty as
it arises, apparently witdout an effort,
has not gained this power by treading
flowery beds of ease. It has como to
him through effort and sacrifice, and
the moro It has cost the greater tho
reward. The poor weak victim OF
temptrtion and Indulgence, who is
powerless to deny his appetite, or to
subduc craving, or to resist the per-
suasion of an evil companion, is indeed
to bo pitied, but his deplorable condi-
ton is duo TO long years of moral
idlcncss, during which ho has dritted
into evil, instead of having stcmmed
tho current and resolHtcly pressed
forward in tho opposite direction.
If this is so-if strength is only to be
obtained through eGort-it may change
the aspect, Of some things we are
accustomed to look upon only rs
calamities and hardships. The very
obstacles which have seemed to hinder.
opportunities for developing tho
courage aud accumulating the power
which we need to pursue it. The
trials which have bccM so hard to bear
havo called forth tho fortitude and
heroism which are parts Of every noble
nature. The difficulties over come,
the dangers faced, evon tho mistakes
made, havo oil tended to make you
solf-reliant. fearless and strong. Just
| as the child learns to walk through
many fall, that seems only painful at
the time, SO wo may all learn lessons
and acquire powers through what ap-
pears at tho time somewhat disastrous.
Earnest and continuous effort is q
copious source from which flows
strength of body, strength Of mind and
| strength of character. 1t is a source
open to all, from which now su pplies
may constantly be drawn.
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